From Rwanda: Practicing Theory

Posted on August 15, 2012

After collecting the data from the Rushaki and District-recommended sites, we went back to Byumba and spent the last part of Monday and the better part of Tuesday giving lessons on alternators and electric machines, safety issues and ballast loads, turbine design and penstock sizing, and how to perform a comprehensive economic comparison of different small energy-system options. Briefly discussed AC/DC generation and transmission, using induction motors as generators (for a great manual on this, look up Nigel Smith!), but unfortunately didn’t get a chance to cover pumps-as-turbines.

Tools included HOMER for economic modelling (with some sample models and an exercise for them), various design manuals (village power, various Practical Action/ITDG publications) and a bit of turbomachinery theory. Between these, seeing Christophe’s site, and performing site surveys, I think they’ve got a good starting point for thinking through the various elements of potential systems!
In lieu of photos from these lessons, here are some more from a site near Rwabafu -

Post-Measurement Pic with Jean de la Croix on the right

And Moises takes center stage

Kyle Gaiser & Josh Milburn, UC Davis

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